FAU Unveils Solar Power System for
College of Engineering and Computer Science

BOCARATON, FL (October 21,
2008) – Florida Atlantic University’s
College of Engineering
and Computer Science recently unveiled a solar power system built
as a class project in a solar engineering course. The system was
funded by a $25,000 gift from the Schatz Family Foundation.

The College’s students worked with faculty member Amir
Abtahi, Ph.D., P.E. to design and install a solar power system on
the south side of FAU’s engineering building on the Boca
Raton campus. The solar engineering class designed and built the
brackets, ordered and installed solar panels, batteries and a
control system. The finished system currently controls the solar
energy lab’s computers. The future plan is to add on to the
system so that all of the mechanical engineering labs operate via
solar energy.

“Solar energy studies have been a priority of the college for
many years,” said
Karl
K. Stevens, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer
Science. “We are excited to be able to provide this type of
unique hands-on learning experience for students at Florida
Atlantic University where they are exposed to both theory and
practice.”

Irving Schatz, president of the Schatz Family Foundation, feels
strongly about using alternative energies in today’s world.
“My generation has not been diligent in efforts to preserve
the environment so I want to help this generation do what we have
failed to do, and it must start at the university with the
students,” said Schatz.
“This gift was
designed to advance the study and use of alternative
energies.”

FAU President Frank T. Brogan’81; State Representative Adam
Hasner; Karl K. Stevens, dean of FAU’s College of
Engineering; and Pete LoBello, president of Solar Transportation
Solutions, LLC participated in the unveiling of the solar panels.

- FAU -

FloridaAtlantic
University's
College of Engineering and Computer Scienceis committed to
providing accessible and responsive programs of education and
research recognized nationally for their high quality. Course
offerings arepresented
on-campus, off-campus, and through distance learning in
bioengineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer
science, electrical engineering, geomatics engineering,
mechanical engineering and ocean engineering.
For more information
about the College, please visitwww.eng.fau.edu.

Florida Atlantic University opened
its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida.
Today, the University serves more than 26,000 undergraduate and
graduate students on seven campuses strategically located along
150 miles of Florida's southeastern coastline. Building on its
rich tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class
faculty, FAU hosts ten colleges: College of Architecture,
Urban & Public Affairs, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts
& Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical
Science, the Barry Kaye College of Business, the College of
Education, the College of Engineering & Computer
Science, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Graduate
College,
the Christine E.
Lynn College of Nursing and theCharles E. Schmidt College of Science.